each moment, new moment

My Dear Friends,
In my training in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition, my mentor made an important point that one has never really strayed, or defeated unless you choose to be so. This is so because each moment arises fresh, each moment is eternity itself, and our practice is to be open to it. We may carry with us the conditioning of the previous moment or all that has come before which we have held on to, whether it be desire or aversion, but yet, this moment is alive, in this moment I can be present to Presence fully. For this reason the teaching of Roshi Jiyu Kennett " eight times down, nine times up" is profound and simple. Releasing from the judgment of our failures, our mistakes, our errors, that there is something wrong, or irredeemable in us, is vital. Forgiveness of ourselves and others is vital. Release from guilt is vital. To be willing to stand naked as we are before the Infinite and accept the full Acceptance that is offered, is our practice. To rise again as the phoenix from our ashes is our practice. To just offer the best of ourselves in love, is enough, it is our practice.
In the words of Roshi Daizui Doug MacPhillamay, "To place the offering of this moment on the altar of our self-giving and to bow, is enough. And it is enough."

I have not posted for two and a half months. My energies have been consumed with moving, with trying to be the best I can be with my anxiety, with my insecurities, and with all the details of moving from one household to another. The depth of my attachments, and the load I have carried with me into this moment has been apparent more than once, and more than once I have slipped on the banana peel of my own reactivity. As Doug would say, there is just one thing to do- pick myself up and be present with the best of me, in love and in kindness in self-offering in this moment.
Blessings on your moment,
Bill